Makueni by-election underway

By Daniel Nzia and Moses Njagi

MAKUENI, KENYA: Voting in most polling stations in Makueni County started at 6am Friday as voters elect a new Senator.

There were few incidents reported but voting went on peacefully in most polling stations.

At Ndueni Primary School polling station, a man was arrested over allegations of voter bribery.

He was allegedly trying to buy electors card but on arrest, police found him with letters for political party agents.

He is being held by police for further interrogation.

At Unoa Primary School in Wote, voting started at 6am with no report of any incident.

There was a long queue but the voting process was fast as voters are only electing candidates for one seat unlike the March 4 poll when the voters got ballot papers for six different elections.

The name of Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, the Wiper party candidate was on the ballot papers.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Friday morning stated that electionmaterials have been distributed in most polling stations but a few will arrive late.

“ IEBC Chair wishes Makueni County voters a peaceful and enjoyable voting. All ballot papers distributed but a few may arrive late. Will compensate time lost,” IEBCposted on its Facebook page.

By Thursday night, poll materials for Makueni, Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West constituencies had been dispatched.

Those contesting for the Makueni Senate seat are Mutula Jnr ( Wiper), John Harun Mwau (Pick), Prof Phillip Kaloki (Narc), Jane Wavinya Kitundu (LPK) and Independent candidate Urbanus Katumo.

Mutula Jnr is in the race to succeed his late father Mutula Kilonzo.

Mutula Jnr cast his vote at Umaa Primary School in Mbooni Constituency at 11.08 am. 

He exuded confidence that he will win the election but cited an incident in Kibwezi where his name was missing in some ballot papers.

He however said IEBC acted promptly and withdrew them.

He was accompanied by his wife Anita Mutula Jnr and Cord MPs Augustino Neto and Stephen Mule.

Meanwhile,  Mwau has hinted that he may challenge the by- election in court, terming the process as flawed.

Speaking after casting his vote at Tangu Primary School in Kilome constituency, Mwau claimed that the decision to paste Mutula Kilonzo Jnr’s details on the ballot had given him advantage over the other candidates as the pasted information was very conspicuous.

“ IEBC is colluding with certain candidates to rig theelections in their favour. The sticker on one candidate (Junior) is so conspicuous that it is giving him undue advantage over the rest of us. It is catching to the electorate,” claimed Mwau, who had also petitioned theelection of the late Mutula after the March 4 general Election.

He added: “From the beginning the process has emerged as a flawed exercise and IEBC should be surcharged for the many anomalies in this by- election”.